MID-WEEK MEET-UP: About Gratitude

Hi First Presbyterian Church,
It's time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! Every year during November, Laura and I (but mostly her!) do “The Thankful Turkey” with our kids. Lots of families do this now. Here’s how it works. Each of our kids designs and colors a turkey that gets posted on a wall in our house. The only thing missing from the turkeys are their tail feathers. So, each day of November, the kids take a colored tail feather, write something they are thankful for on the feather, and put the feather in their turkey’s tail. At the end of November, each turkey has a vibrant and colorful tail, displaying lots of gratitude. It’s a fun tradition and helpful activity.

The statements of gratitude that go on each feather sometimes say things like: “My family,” or “My teacher,” or “My friends.” These are important things to feel grateful for and to never take for granted. But my four-year-old’s gratitude statements, though very simple, sometimes cause me to stop and think. He will sometimes be thankful for the same things as his older sisters. But sometimes, when we ask him what he’s thankful for today, he’ll say things like, “My turkey’s eyes,” because he thinks his Thankful Turkey has really cute eyes. Or, he’ll say things like, “My vacuum and mop,” because he saw his vacuum and mop and felt genuinely grateful for them. We might chuckle because of the innocence of such statements, but isn’t this the kind of all-encompassing gratitude that we’re encouraged to express in 2 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances”? Perhaps this isn’t the same thing, but I am convinced that if I felt more genuine gratitude for things like my vacuum and mop, I’d probably feel more content and joyful in life!

Sometimes I think we assume gratitude is like trying to find the silver-lining of a storm cloud or admiring a rose despite its thorns – finding something positive in the midst of negativity. However, my mind goes to what Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11-13, “I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Paul faced countless (and even life-threatening) situations in which there really was nothing tangible to be grateful for, and yet, somehow, he could say he was content. His gratitude stemmed from the strength he gained knowing that Christ was with him.  

By looking at the world around us, we see human suffering. We experience it in our own lives. This is not the way God intended the world to be. But if we look closely, we will also see glimpses of God’s redemptive and resurrecting power at work, which are reasons to be grateful. Nevertheless, if after looking closely, it still seems hard to see even those glimpses, we can draw strength from knowing God is with us in the bleakness. With Christ the King Sunday approaching (a day on which we remember that Christ will one day return to us to finally set all things back in order), we can also be reminded of the hope we are offered in Christ – that suffering will not always persist. May we know this to be true in our lives and feel the gratitude that comes through Christ who gives us strength.

Peace to you,

Pastor Neff

Mid-Week Meet-Up: The Differences and Similarities between Catholics and Protestants

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

In my Wednesday Evening Bible Study, a few people in the group have a Catholic background, so we’re studying the differences between Catholics and Protestants. With Halloween right behind us, it seems appropriate for me to highlight some things we’ve discussed in our Bible Study. (By the way, did you know the Protestant Reformation began on Halloween in 1517?)

Maybe you know this but maybe you don’t, Catholics and Protestants have historically differed in our understanding of how faith and good works relate to salvation. Sometimes Protestants say, “Protestants believe that we are saved by God through faith alone, and Catholics believe that we are saved by God through faith and good works.” I think this is an oversimplification of the truth. I think when we look more closely at what we mean by statements like that, we will actually find that our beliefs aren’t as far apart from each other as we might assume.

It’s true that Protestants believe that God saves us by faith alone. We cannot earn our own salvation. We cannot heal our own brokenness. This is what we’re told in Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast.” This is what we call justification – which means we are “declared innocent of sin” by God. We are justified by our faith in Christ. To be justified before God means we are free from sin and its effects, which are death and hell. So is that the end of it? Protestants think you just believe in Christ and you’re saved? Not exactly. Even if we are rescued from death and hell because of the work Christ has done and transmits to us (i.e., justification), that doesn’t mean our salvation ends there. God does care about our actions. God wants us to live like Jesus lives. So God helps us to live that way by giving us help from the Holy Spirit. This process of living increasingly more like Jesus is called sanctification. Both justification and sanctification are part of the whole process of salvation. I sometimes like to summarize it by saying, “We don’t do good works in order to become saved. We do good works because we are saved.”

Even though Catholics sometimes seem to talk about doing good works in order to earn their salvation from God, that isn’t how Catholic theologian Peter Kreeft describes it. Here’s what he writes: “Protestants and Catholics agree that faith is necessary for salvation. The Bible clearly teaches that it is. Good works alone do not merit salvation. No one can ‘buy’ heaven with enough good works, or good enough motives. The ticket to heaven is not being nice or sincere or good enough; the ticket to heaven is the Blood of Christ, and faith is the acceptance of that free gift. But the [Catholic] Church insists that good works are necessary too. This means the works of love. Good works are not mere external deeds, but the works of love. And love is not mere feelings, but the works of love (charity, agape). That is why Christ can command them; feelings cannot be commanded. St. James clearly teaches that ‘faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead’ (James 2:17). And some of Christ's parables teach that our salvation depends on charity (Matthew 25:40: ‘as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’)”

I think what Kreeft is saying is something along the lines of “doing good works because we are saved.” If I’m right, then, it turns out, Protestants and Catholics may not be that far away from each other as we might think about salvation.

Friends, I encourage you to reflect on God’s amazing love and grace shown to you in Jesus Christ today. You are loved, forgiven, and saved because of Jesus. Let that reality sink into your hearts. And then, go and love someone today – humbly and selflessly serving them like Jesus would. In doing both of those things, you are experiencing the broad spectrum of all that salvation entails. Praise be to God.

Peace to you,

Pastor Neff

Mid-Week Meet-Up: Our Core Values

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! Today, as I do sometimes, I want to highlight my article being published in forthcoming edition of The Good News. So…. here it is!

The Faith Forward Vision Team just finished its second Vision Retreat this past weekend. In the coming weeks, you can expect to hear about more of the discussions that happened at the retreat, but I wanted to give you an overview summary. Leading up to the retreat, I had told you that the Vision Team would be deciding about our church’s core values. That happened. Since core values are really a description of our church’s deeply held principles from a grassroots level (our “essence”), the stories you shared with the Vision Team over the last few weeks were invaluable in helping us to discern those values. Here’s some of what you shared.

Many people told stories of volunteering with LOGOS as adults and having such a great time doing it; remembering when they were kids in the church and how loving adults took an interest in mentoring and investing in them; and forming very close relationships with other people after getting involved in the church. Many people told stories of feeling inspired and spiritually awakened because of our worship services; helping to lead worship by contributing a musical gift to a worship service; and the legacy of musical excellence and great preaching at the church. Many people told stories of following the leading of the Holy Spirit to help show the transforming love of Christ to people in the church and those in need outside the church and across the globe. Many people told stories of the determination displayed by the church after the fire of 2004; the cooperation demonstrated by the church to make difficult decisions while the church was rebuilt, including purchasing a new pipe organ; and the resiliency of the congregation to weather a pastoral transition under the stress of COVID. And, finally, so many of you told amazing stories of fellow church members rallying around people in need; pastoral support during times of crisis; and tangible reminders to each other that each of us belongs here at the church.

It is because of these stories and many more just like them, that the Vision Team agreed that the following statements summarize our core values at FPCP.

As a Christ-centered Community, our devotion calls each of us to...

• Connect:  We create and sustain life-giving relationships, across all generations.

• Inspire:  We worship God in ways that stir our souls, sharpen our minds, and speak to our hearts.

• Follow:  We experience transformation through the Holy Spirit, and help others do the same.

• Unify:  We join together across our differences, to make a difference.

• Love:  We show grace and compassion to others, with no strings attached!

These core values will become important as we eventually decide about the church’s strategic objectives moving forward. Looking at our five values, I have to admit – I’m pretty excited to be part of this church!

Peace to you,
Pastor Aaron

Mid-Week Meet-Up: Next Vision Retreat Coming Up

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! This weekend is the second Vision Retreat in our Faith Forward initiative. As I have mentioned, at the first retreat, the Vision Team reviewed the findings from our church’s Discovery Report and discussed our church’s greatest strengths and weaknesses and how we might leverage our strengths as we embark into the future. Since identity (who we are) precedes behavior (what we do), we spent the majority of the first retreat telling stories of the church to try to gain clarity on our identity – who we are as a church. These stories began to take shape into what might be our church’s core values. Throughout the retreat, there were so many common threads in what people were sharing. After the retreat, I asked you – the congregation of FPCP – to share your own stories with members of the Vision Team. Many of you did that, and there were, again, many common threads in what you all shared. This is all very encouraging and suggests we’re on the right track toward discovering our core values.

At the second Vision Retreat this weekend, the Vision Team will decide about what our core values are and how our values inform what our mission and vision should be. In the weeks that follow the second retreat, there will be an opportunity for you – the congregation – to attend a debriefing session and for you to provide your feedback. Please continue to keep the Vision Team in your prayers. We remain in God’s loving hands, and that is a very good thing.

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: More about the Vision Retreat

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! I wanted to continue my thoughts from last week’s email, following up on the Faith Forward Vision Retreat. I emphasized the fact that identity must precede behavior. Before we can decide where we’re going as a church and how we plan to get there, we have to understand who we are. Toward this end, the members of the Vision Team spent a large part of the retreat telling our most meaningful memories of the church, recounting stories of our “unsung heroes,” and talking about what makes FPC different from other churches in positive ways.

I’d like to share with you some of the things I shared during the retreat. As a pastor, I feel that one of my greatest responsibilities is giving people reasons to trust in Christ. This responsibility is also one of my greatest joys. I interact with a lot of people in the church throughout the week – conversations after worship, over coffee, at lunch, in my office, at a committee meeting, in someone’s home, in a hospital room, or just in passing. Some of my most meaningful memories at the church are when, during one of those conversations, I can see a light burning brighter in their eyes because their relationship to Christ is moving more from a place of belief and into a place of trust. In those moments when someone realizes that God is more than simply an idea to believe in but a person they can rely on; or when someone discovers the joy and wisdom of simply being present to God in prayer because God is becoming a person they love; or when someone gains new clarity about who God is and what God wants them to be doing with their lives – those moments are among the most meaningful moments I have experienced at our church. This is a church where people are growing in their faith, and that is a beautiful thing.

Another very meaningful memory for me was back in April 2022 when most of my family and I had COVID and some of the congregation brought us meals during that very stressful time. It is sometimes hard to ask for help. It is especially hard as a pastor to ask for help from the congregation I’m leading. Allowing myself to be helped and loved by this congregation was incredibly special. This is a church where people show their love and commitment to each other, and that is a beautiful thing.

There are many other memories I could share, and I know you have memories of your own. As I did last week, I encourage you to share your own most meaningful memories with a member of the Vision Team whenever you’re in a committee meeting, gathering for choir practice, chatting after worship, or at any other time. Your feedback will help the Vision Team as they convene for their second retreat on October 21 and 22.

Let’s continue growing in faith and in the love of Christ.

Peace to you,                                                    
Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: Vision Retreat Update

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! There was quite a lead-up to the Vision Retreat that happened this past weekend. We spent 20 days praying that God would give wisdom and discernment to the Vision Team. I want to give you a brief update about the result of the retreat.

The Vision Team reviewed the findings from the Discovery Report, which summarized the results from the Transforming Church Insights survey and the conversations our consultant had with the focus groups in June. The Team also looked at a demographic study of the community surrounding our church to try to better understand the people whom God has placed around us. All of this work helped us to answer the questions: What are our strengths and weaknesses right now? Which ministries of the church are going well and which aren’t going so well? And how sustainable is our current ministry structure? Our goal is to leverage our greatest assets and strengths as we embark into our future. 

However, before we can decide where we’re going and how we plan to get there, we have to understand who we are. This is a matter of identity. Let me illustrate what this means. I spend time with the Lord every day in prayer and reading the scriptures, because I am a follower of Jesus Christ. That is what a follower of Christ does. Identity precedes behavior. This is one of the reasons pastors often remind Christians of their baptismal identity: “You are a beloved and pleasing child of God” (Matthew 3:17). If you remember that your identity is as a beloved child of God, you are more likely to do what a beloved child of God might do. Well-known pastor and author Craig Groeschel says, “You do what you do, because of what you think of you.” Identity precedes behavior. 

Our consultant Kevin Ford helped us to begin talking about what our identity at First Presbyterian Church of Pittsford might be. He had us talking about our own most meaningful memories in the church. He had us recounting stories of the “unsung heroes” of the church. He had us talking about what makes FPC different from other churches in positive ways. Our answers to those questions began to generate themes of deeply-felt and inspiring ways that we live as a church. Those themes are beginning to take shape in what might be our “core values” or “essence” - in other words, our identity. 

No decisions were made at the retreat. We will reconvene for a second retreat on October 21 and 22 to continue the work. In the meantime, whenever you’re in a committee meeting, gathering for choir practice, or chatting after worship, I encourage you to share your most meaningful memory at FPC with a member of the Vision Team. In case you need to be reminded who they are, here are their names:

Oliver Ash, Lew Becker, Dianne Brown, Jared Chase, Janis Croop, Dan Harrison, Anne Ferris, Anne Francis, Elizabeth Gianakakis, Paul Irving, Erin Jacobson, Craig Kunkle, Jen Lake, Stacy Leyland, Dawn Magnuson, Luis Martinez, Bob Mecredy, Aaron Neff, Len Parker, Mark Pedersen, Rob Rhodes, Bill Rieth, Paige Thompson, Judith Van Dorn, Andrea Wright

Let’s continue to trust in God to give us grace and wisdom for our present and our future.

Peace to you,                                                    
Pastor Aaron

Mid-Week Meet-Up: LOGOS

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! Our mid-week kids programming called “LOGOS” ends today. The program is fantastic! Throughout the evening, kids play games and do crafts, learn music, have a Bible study, and eat dinner. At different times during the year, the kids also volunteer and serve, by singing in a choir that occasionally helps to lead our Sunday worship, collecting food for the Pittsford Food Cupboard, and more. There are always a GREAT group of participants, and it takes a dedicated team of volunteers to make it all work.

There are so many things to like about the program, but do you know what I love about LOGOS? I love building relationships with the kids. I am sometimes a “table parent” at dinnertime. When I eat with the kids, we practice eating like a family, and we help serve each other and clean up after each other. I love to hear them tell me about their hobbies, about what they are learning in school, and about their friends.

It’s always so interesting when they tell me about hobbies or school, and it’s something totally new to me. I try not to be the adult who is constantly saying, “Now, when I was your age…” but it happens sometimes. Usually, I just feel very grateful to observe their passion, excitement, and interest about their lives. More than anything else, my relationships with the kids at LOGOS reminds me of how important intergenerational ministry is in the church. As much as I need to help those kids understand the importance of Christian faith and how we live it out right now at First Presbyterian, it’s also important for me (and all of us) to listen to how they understand Christian faith and how it helps them in their lives.

Tonight at our final LOGOS of the year, I am going to be asking myself some questions that I invite you to also ask yourselves. How am I investing in the next generation of Christians at First Presbyterian? How am I sharing my faith with younger people in the church? What are some specific conversations I could have with a young person that would help them to understand why our faith is so important? What are some specific questions I could ask young people in the church to help me understand why our faith is important to them?

We’re all in this together!

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

Mid-Week Meet-Up: Thirsting for Water

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It's time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! During worship on Sunday, we read a passage from Exodus 17 about the Israelites fleeing Egypt and finding themselves in the desert with no water. Since then, I’ve been reflecting on the human need for water to survive. A person can only survive a few days without it. Water insecurity is a huge problem in many places in the world. 1 out of 9 (over 800 million) people in the world do not have access to safe water. The human body has a way of prioritizing its need of water over its other needs. After all, the human body is 60% water. This is one of the reasons a dehydrated person loses interest in food; their body tells them they need water more than they need food, so water is what they crave. Every year, over 1 million people die as a result of lacking access to safe water. How is that possible? Well, consider the fact, that more than 2 billion people in the world don’t have access to a toilet. No access to a toilet means sewage contaminates a person’s source of drinking water. Because our bodies crave water when they are dehydrated, we will drink any water we can get, even if we know it’s been contaminated. Our need for water drives our behavior.

I don’t mean to make light of this global problem by “spiritualizing” it, but I think this basic need for water is exactly what Jesus had in mind when he said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). Imagine if we pursued God the way we pursue water - as if our lives depended on it. That’s what Jesus is trying to get us to see: our deep and fundamental need for what God has to offer us. Jesus is saying, when we recognize our deep need, and thirst to have that need met, we will be filled up.

There is a reason Christians have fasted during Lent over thousands of years – to remind ourselves that our need for physical sustenance is equally matched by our need to know and love God. Have you ever felt desperately in need of God? Picture yourself in the middle of the desert with no water. It’s 110 degrees. The sand is hot. There are no clouds. The sun is beating down. There is no shade. You can’t even sweat anymore. Your mouth is dry and parched. You would give anything for just a drop of water. Have you ever desired God as much as you might want that drop of water? Jesus is trying to help us understand that we do, in fact, have a deep and desperate need for God. Thankfully, in Jeremiah 29:13, the Lord says, “When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart.”

What Jesus did for us in his death and resurrection was to reconcile us to God. You can know God today because of Jesus. Jesus offers us a relationship with God… but only if we want it. Imagine one of your favorite musicians came to you and said, “I’m going to dedicate all my time to teaching you everything I know about music.” Imagine that! Maybe you’d be thinking, “I’m going to be able to play the guitar like Jimi Hendrix!” Or, “I can’t believe it! I’m going to be as famous as the Beatles!” That would be worth some excitement. But here’s the thing: none of that would happen unless you spent countless hours learning from that musician. You would only get out of it what you want out of it. This is how it is with our relationship to God. We must nurture that relationship, regularly and with intention. Lent is a perfect time to consider how you can do just that. As we await the story of Easter, never forget that the gift of Easter is already yours today. What is that gift? It is Christ himself, and he awaits you.

Peace to you,

Pastor Neff

Mid-Week Meet-Up: Sabbath

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! I wanted to, first, let you know that it’s not too late to let me know if you’d like to join my new members class, which starts this Sunday (March 12) and continues the next two Sundays (March 19 and March 26). The class begins at 11:30am, and it’s a great opportunity to learn about our church.

Now to today's main message. On Wednesdays throughout the school year, our afterschool children's program called LOGOS happens. Right before dinner, I lead a brief Bible study with the parents whose kids come to LOGOS and, afterward, we all eat together. Recently, we’ve been looking at the topic of “Sabbath.” What does it mean to “keep the Sabbath?” In my view, keeping Sabbath is not just about observing religious rituals one day a week. Sabbath is a mindset. It is a principle we are meant to integrate into our whole lives.

Last week during the LOGOS parents Bible study, we talked about two things the scriptures teach us about Sabbath that I also want to share with you. As a society, we are often overworked, overcommitted and, as a result, exhausted. So, this is a timely message for us all.

Why are we told to practice Sabbath-keeping? In Genesis 1:3, we’re told, “God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that God had done in creation.” Again, in Exodus 20:8-11, we’re told, “Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy… For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.” It seems the reason we’re told to rest is because God rested. The way people often think about the relationship between God’s rest and our rest is like this: “Surely, if God took a break, we should take a break, too.” However, I think that misses the point.

The Hebrew word used for “rest” can mean different things. Think of it like our English phrase “sit.” People can “sit” in many different ways. For example, if I say, “He was seated on the couch,” you would imagine someone taking a break. On the other hand, if I say, “She was seated on the throne,” you would imagine someone assuming a position of power. That’s the kind of rest God was taking in Genesis 1:3. God wasn’t sitting down to take a break. God was assuming the role of cosmic ruler sitting on the throne. So, here’s the logic of the Sabbath: you and I are meant to rest (in the sense of “take a break”) because God is resting on the throne (in the sense of “in charge of the universe.”)

Here’s what that means. Sabbath is about pushing pause on the rat race and unplugging from the hustle of life in order to remind ourselves that we limited control over our own lives. Even if we feel that continuing to work and hustle is necessary, observing Sabbath means taking a rest anyway. It means taking a deep breath and confessing: “God, you are ultimately in control, not me. I trust in you alone to meet my needs.”

Here’s the other thing the scriptures teach us about Sabbath: It is a gift, which means you don’t have to earn it.

Humans were always meant to work. According to Genesis 1, on the sixth day of creation, God made humans and immediately gave them a purpose to be fruitful and multiple and to care for and cultivate the land. But take a close look at Genesis 1:24-31. The sixth day ended before any human was able to do any work, which means the first full day for humanity was the Sabbath – a day of rest. Humans were given rest before they even had a chance to earn it. Rest is a gift of grace God has given us.

I encourage you to observe Sabbath this week. I hope that means worshipping with First Presbyterian Church on Sunday. But more than that, I hope you will find other ways to unplug and push pause on the busyness of your life in order to take a moment to breathe and remember that you are just a human. You don’t have to be in control of every part of your life, because the reality is you can’t be in control of every part of your life. Take a moment. Rest, and remember that God is in control.

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

Mid-Week Meet-Up: Church Vision

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! In just a few weeks, our annual congregational meeting will occur on Sunday, February 26th. In the February issue of The Good News (our church newsletter), I wrote about a brief presentation I will be giving during the congregational meeting. In case you didn’t see my article, I’m highlighting it in today’s meet-up. Here it is:

------

Where are we going as a church? Your answer will reflect what you believe the church is and what it ought to be doing. Some Christians say that the primary job of the church is to worship God. Others say it’s fellowship. Others say it’s community service or evangelism. What about First Presbyterian Church? What do we say?

Our February 26 annual congregational meeting will include the familiar components: receiving board, committee, financial and budget reports, and the pastors’ terms of call vote. However, I also will be giving a special presentation that answers the question, “Where are we going as a church?”

For a year and a half, your elders, deacons, trustees, church staff, and I have been developing a church vision which can be summarized like this: Our goal is to help you grow your faith. We believe three things we do help accomplish our goal: worship, connect, and serve. If each of us were doing all three, our faith would grow the most.

Worship is the most important thing we do, and it helps us connect with God in meaningful, inspiring, and life-giving ways. Worship is of mutual benefit: it is for God’s glorification and our spiritual transformation. We believe that if each of us is worshiping God, it will change our lives.

Various church groups offer opportunities to connect with each other. We need to nurture the insights and grace we receive in worship for them to grow and bear fruit in our lives. Our church relationships are among the most important ways that this happens. We study the Bible, socialize, make music, and more. We believe that if each of us is involved in one group in the church, it will change our lives.

Since God’s love is not something we just receive but also something we share, we also believe that service is important. Each of us is uniquely gifted and called to contribute to the church’s ministry (1 Corinthians 12:7) which grows our faith. Some of us are called to lead as a church officer. Others serve on committees, teach, lead prayer team members, or volunteer elsewhere. Others reach outside the church to serve our community. We believe that if each of us is serving in one capacity for the church, it will change our lives.

This is where we’re trying to go as a church—toward greater clarity about what it means to worship, connect, and serve together as a church. I can’t wait to tell you more about all this at the annual meeting on February 26. I hope to see lots of you then!

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

Mid-Week Meet-Up: January

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It's time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! Although this has been an unseasonably warm and snowless winter unlike any I can remember since I’ve lived in New York, it is the end of January, and we are fully immersed in winter. Even though the holidays have long passed and (sadly) the Bills’ football season has ended, I do like this time of year. There is something about January and a new year that makes me feel hopeful for and focused on the future. Most years, I’m a sucker for a good New Year’s resolution! Even though it is (usually) cold this time of year, the days are actually getting longer and that feels nice.

All this reflection on fresh starts and newness reminds me of a verse of scripture from Revelation, which I have written to you about before. The author of Revelation is describing the future day when God will make a new creation, when Jesus says in 21:5, “Behold, I am making all things new!” I think I especially like this verse because of the very specific wording that is used in it. Notice that Jesus did not say, “I am making all new things.” Instead, he said, “I am making all things new.”

There is a significant difference between making “all new things” and making “all things new.” When Christ’s work of salvation reaches its completion in the future, and he destroys the powers of sin and death once and for all, he is not going to destroy you and me and the earth we live on along with it. He loves his creation. He is not going to scrap it and start over. He is going to simply remove all of its imperfections. The saving work of God is a work of renewal, not destruction. You and I are the culmination of all the experiences we’ve ever had. We cannot change the past, but we can allow God’s saving grace to work in us to make our lives and experiences (as affected by sin and death, as they are) full of meaning and beauty. The journey we’re on as a church is hopeful, because – come what may – God will renew us. Christ promises to make all things new. There is nothing that Christ cannot redeem.

Look around you. Do you see hopelessness and despair? Nothing is beyond God’s transformational love. Ask God today, “What can I do to shine your light into the world and give people the hope that is found in Christ?”

Peace to you,
Pastor Aaron

Mid-Week Meet-Up: Mission Teams

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! As you may know, our church sent two missionary groups to help with relief efforts after hurricanes. One group went to New Bern, North Carolina, where there is still damage from Hurricane Florence (2018) and Hurricane Matthew (2016). The other group went to Fort Myers, Florida, where there is damage from Hurricane Ian (2022). This morning I saw that Dan Harrison (one of our leaders of the trip to North Carolina) posted on our church’s Facebook page. You can see his post by clicking here. I encourage you to like and comment on his post. Here is the text of what he wrote:

“We sent two teams out today for mission, one to Ms. Barbara and one to Mr. Eddie. Work at Barbara's house included painting and a difficult electrical installation. Craig Kunkle, Calypso, and Sally led this effort. At Mr. Eddie's house we pulled out subfloor which was badly damaged by water. Tomorrow we will finish the removal and start in on installing a new floor. Steve, Nick, Adam and Dan worked on this project. Janette Henderson and Carol Anne cleaned up at New Hope village, visited with Ms. Mary and prepared an amazing dinner for us.

On reflection we saw God today in Mr. Eddie's kind demeanor, Ms. Mary's reflection on her life of loss and yet deep gratitude and love of prayer, and Sally’s and Calypso’s ministry to Ms. Barbara.”

I’m struck by what Dan wrote when he said “we saw God today.” It reminds me of how the apostle Paul frequently refers to the church as “the body of Christ.” And how the apostle John says, “Those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them” (1 John 4:16). And how Jesus said that when we serve those in need, it is as though we are serving Christ himself (Matthew 25:34-40). God is truly present in and through us when we act and live like Christ. I think Dan is right to have seen God at work in their interactions with the people they are meeting in North Carolina.

On final reflection, I am reminded of the words of the 16th-century Spanish nun and mystic Teresa of Ávila. She once wrote: “Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which He looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good. Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are His body.” I am encouraged by the work of our missionaries to follow their example and “be Christ” to someone today. How about you?

Make sure to like and follow our Facebook page to see more updates!

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

Mid-Week Meet-Up: Epiphany

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It's time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! Although we observed Epiphany during worship this past Sunday, as Pastor Erin explained, the official day of Epiphany is not until January 6th – as it is every year. Remember the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas?” Well, that’s because there are literally 12 days of Christmas, from December 25 through January 6th. January 6th marks the end of the Christmas season and is the day when we remember the magi who visited the newborn Jesus.

I love the story of the magi, but the truth is – we don’t know a lot about who these particular magi actually were. We can only infer some details about them based on the little that is mentioned in Matthew 2:1-18. The most significant detail we’re told about them is the noun used to describe them – “magi.” The Greek word that the Gospel-writer Matthew uses is magos. You can probably see a similarity between “magi” and the word “magic.” That’s no coincidence. These “wise men” who came to visit Jesus weren’t kings (as we sometimes sing about them). They were magicians. Specifically, they were practitioners of forbidden magic. They were… sorcerers. I understand that you might be confused by my calling the magi “sorcerers,” but it’s probably true.

Did you know that the word magos is used in 3 other places in the Bible? In Daniel 2, Nebuchadnezzar employs a group of magi to use divination to interpret his mysterious dream. In the Old Testament Law, this form of divination was forbidden. In Acts 8, a man named Simon (who was a magi) offers the apostles money to teach him how to use the “magic” of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Peter rebukes him and tells him the Holy Spirit is not a source of “magic” nor is the Holy Spirit’s power something to be bought with money. In Acts 13, a man named Elymas (who was a magi) was offended by the preaching of Paul, Barnabas, and John, and he actively worked to persuade people not to believe in Jesus.

So, you can see, the overwhelming portrayal of magi in the Bible is not very positive. They were sorcerers who often opposed the work of God. Yet, it is “magi from the East” who came to worship Jesus in Matthew 2. These magi were the most unlikely characters to be looking for Jesus; and yet, in the story of Matthew 2:1-18, they seem to be the only ones who are, in fact, looking for Jesus. That’s kind of the point of the story! The magi didn’t know the Law of Moses. They may have never even heard of a Messiah. They were astrologers, and all they knew was that the stars told them to find Jesus, and so they did. The miracle of the magi is that the God of Jesus spoke to them through a pagan art of astrology… so that they could find Jesus and worship him.

I love the story of Epiphany, because it reminds us that no one is too far beyond God’s ability to reach with the good news of Jesus. If you took a moment to think about a person that you think is farthest from God than any other person you know, just remember: you never know what God may be doing in their life. This applies especially to people who you don’t personally know. If you see a person that doesn’t appear to have much of a spiritual life or a person that doesn’t seem to worship the way you do, just be careful of your next thought, because you never know what God might be doing in their life. You may be standing in front of someone on their way to find Jesus. They may be on their way to find the hope, joy, love, and peace of salvation. The last thing we should do is give them a reason to turn back. Instead, let’s stand ever-ready to help them on their way. To me, that’s the meaning of Epiphany.

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

Mid-Week Meet-Up: Christmas Day

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! I want to begin by reminding you that on Sunday, Christmas Day, we will be worshiping during a single service at 10:00 am. It will be a simple service with Christmas carols and Christmas stories. You are also welcome (and encouraged!) to come to church in your pajamas (as is our tradition the Sunday after Christmas Eve). I’ll be wearing the Christmas sweater I’ve worn every Christmas morning since my kids gave it to me a few years ago! The service will be livestreamed using a very simple set-up.  Also, don’t forget to attend one of our Christmas Eve services on Saturday at either 4:30 pm (kid-friendly family service), 8:00 pm (candlelight service with choir and bells), and 10:30 pm (candlelight service with soloists).

I’ve been thinking about Christmas surprises this week and reflecting on some of the times I’ve been surprised in life. During my last year of my first graduate program, I was living in Illinois and Laura was living in New York. We were dating long-distance, and she came to visit me for Christmas. At the bottom of her Christmas stocking were some hand-made crafts I had bought from an international fair-trade store, and one of the crafts was a small jewelry box made from cinnamon bark. Inside the jewelry box was an engagement ring, which I then used to “pop the question.” It is still one of my favorite Christmas memories.

While it wasn’t on Christmas, one of the biggest surprises I’ve ever received was in October 2015. Laura and I were living in New Jersey and expecting the birth of our daughter Esther at any moment. Friends from our church invited us over for dinner. We arrived to their house and stood in the kitchen, chatting for about 10 minutes until they invited us into the dining room, which was behind a closed door. They opened the door, and Laura and I were both shocked to see so many of our friends from the church waiting to surprise us with a baby shower. They didn’t want to startle an almost 9-month pregnant Laura with a loud, “Surprise!” – so it was a quiet greeting, which kind of added to the effect! It was a wonderful surprise that made us feel very loved and supported as we were about to enter a new phase of our lives.

As I think about these surprises, I realize that what makes them so special is the people involved with the surprise. I don’t remember what we had for dinner or the gifts we received at the baby shower. But I do remember each of the people who were there to show their love and support, people we still stay in contact with and visit when we can. I don’t remember what Laura got me for Christmas the year we got engaged, but I do feel so grateful every day that she is my partner and that we are building our lives together.

This Christmas, as you experience and receive some holiday surprises, I pray that you will feel the love of people – kids, grandkids, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, friends, or neighbors. Above all, I pray that you will feel the love of God – who gave us the greatest surprise of all. God put on human flesh and showed up at our own home on that first Christmas, just to demonstrate that we are never alone. This Christmas and on every day – you are never alone!

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

Mid-Week Meet-Up: Advent Hymn

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! I love this time of year when we begin singing the traditional Advent and Christmas hymns during worship. It’s been really nice singing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” as we light the Advent wreath. That hymn is, perhaps, my all-time favorite Advent hymn. Other Advent favorites of mine include “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” and “Watchman, Tell Us of the Night.” However, did you know that the hymn “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” is also considered an Advent hymn? Every time I hear the hymn, it brings me to tears. Maybe you’re not familiar with the hymn. Here are the lyrics:

Let all mortal flesh keep silence
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly-minded,
for with blessing in his hand
Christ, our God, to earth descending,
our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords in human likeness,
in the body and the blood
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heav’nly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way
as the Light from Light, descending
from the realms of endless day,
that the pow’rs of hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away.

At his feet the six-winged seraph,
cherubim with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the presence
as with ceaseless voice they cry:
“Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, Lord Most High!”

The words of this hymn are ancient, probably written in Greek in the third century AD. It describes the two advents (i.e., “comings”) of Christ that we celebrate during this holy season – the first advent of Christ in his birth in Bethlehem (verses 1 and 2 of the hymn) and the second advent of Christ in his future return to earth (verses 3 and 4 of the hymn). We tend to think of Christmas and the birth of Jesus as a peaceful, innocent, and even quaint event. Yet, these ancient words encourage us to approach his birth with “fear and trembling.” What about Christ’s birth is there to fear and tremble? That’s why I like this hymn so much. It reminds me that, as much as the birth of Christ may be peaceful, it is also holy, mysterious, and even a little fearsome (in a similar way to happening upon a grizzly bear in your living room). What could it possibly even mean that the God of the universe has come to our home? The mystery of a triune God is too much to comprehend, let alone that triune God becoming like us in the birth of Jesus. The early Christians called Mary, the mother of Jesus, theotokos, which means “God-bearer.” What could it possibly even mean that a human-being grew in her womb the body that God would inhabit? In the fourth century AD, Athanasius of Alexandria, a church father and theologian, wrote a treatise called On the Incarnation. Referring to Christ as “the Word,” Athanasius said the following:

“The body of the Word, then, being a real human body, in spite of its having been uniquely formed from a virgin, was of itself mortal and, like other bodies, liable to death. But the indwelling of the Word loosed it from this natural liability, so that corruption could not touch it. Thus is happened that two opposite marvels took place at once: the death of all was consummated in the Lord's body; yet, because the Word was in it, death and corruption were in the same act utterly abolished. Death there had to be, and death for all, so that the due of all might be paid. Wherefore, the Word, as I said, being Himself incapable of death, assumed a mortal body, that He might offer it as His own in place of all, and suffering for the sake of all through His union with it, might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver them who all their lifetime were enslaved by the fear of death.”

What mystery is this – that both death and eternal life could exist in the person of Jesus Christ? This mystery that God – the creator and giver of life – would also become a mortal human being for our salvation is the point of Christ. I was present when all my children were born, and their births were incredibly spiritual experiences for me. There is something profoundly sacred about witnessing a life coming into the world. Nevertheless, I cannot even fathom the infinite holiness of holding a newborn child in my arms who was himself the very God that created me. It is too much to understand. It causes me to fear and tremble…

I encourage you to reread the words of this moving hymn and contemplate the mystery of Christ’s first coming this Advent and join the angelic chorus: “Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, Lord Most High!”

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

Mid-Week Meet-Up: Waiting During Advent

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! The Bills play the Patriots tomorrow night at 8:15 pm. You know I’m a huge Bills fan, and I love watching their games. I’m locked into each play of the game. Every pass, every run, every defensive play. After one of their games, I can hardly wait until the next one. I’ve sometimes thought to myself, “I wish I could binge-watch the Bills season! I don’t want to wait for the next game! I wish I could just watch all 17 of their games – one after the other! I don’t want the thrill to end!” I know, I know… real mature. But eventually my rational mind prevails and I realize that part of the enjoyment of football season is the anticipation between games. I actually enjoy thinking about a game after it’s happened. I think about what the team did that went well and what the team did that went poorly. I read articles, tune in to sports radio, and listen to my favorite Bills podcasts. Then I begin thinking about their next opponent and how they match up against the Bills’ strengths and weaknesses. It’s a whole process for me. (I told you I was a huge fan!) As I’m waiting for the next game, I’m not passively waiting… I’m actively waiting.

This is similar to Advent. (I bet you never thought you’d hear a Bills-Advent analogy!) Advent is intended to be a season of waiting. Advent is about waiting for the arrival of Jesus – not just remembering his first arrival at Christmas but also anticipating his next arrival at his Second Coming. Generally speaking, there are two types of waiting. A lot of the waiting that we do in life is passive. Sitting in an airport terminal reading a book while we await our flight to arrive is passive waiting. But we also do active waiting in life – like how I am preparing myself for the Bills-Patriots kickoff. Tidying up and making hors d'oeuvres while we await guests to arrive is another example of active waiting. Active waiting is different than simply “passing the time.” It is engaging in an action that lays the foundation for the anticipated event to happen. If your guests arrive and you haven’t tidied up and made hors d'oeuvres because you were only sitting around waiting for them (i.e., passive waiting), they’ll probably be pretty disappointed. They’d have to make their own hors d'oeuvres!

Advent is about actively waiting for the arrival of Jesus. If Jesus were to literally visit us during Advent, would he find that we’ve made room for him in our lives, in our churches, and in our communities, or would he have to make room for himself?

This Advent, let’s actively wait for Jesus. Let’s identify the places where Jesus is already visible in our lives as individuals, in our programs as a church, and in our actions in the world, and, then, let’s live more fully into those places.

Happy waiting,

Pastor Aaron

Mid-Week Meet-Up: Congregational Meeting

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! I wanted to take this opportunity to remind you that there will be a brief congregational meeting after the 10:00 am worship service. Then, after the congregational meeting will be our annual Advent Preparation Brunch.

In Reformed theology, the nomination and election of officers is very sacred. For over 500 years, Protestants have emphasized a belief in something called “the priesthood of all believers.” This idea appears in 1 Peter 2:9, when Peter says to the whole community of believers: “You (plural) are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Each individual in the church is a priest whom God calls into a specific ministry. In recent years, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has gotten away from calling people like Pastor Erin and me “ministers” and instead prefers to call us “teaching elders.” By not calling pastors “ministers,” we are encouraging our churches to think of all of their members as ministers – which you are!

You probably know that our Deacons do many very faithful and meaningful things for our church family, including take Communion to our members who are no longer able to come to in-person worship. This past Sunday, I was part of a conversation at church during which someone explained that residents of one local retirement community refer to one of these Deacons as their “minister.” I love that, because it’s true! Every member of the faith community – regardless of whether you’ve been to seminary or are ordained clergy – is a minister!

This Sunday, the Nominating Committee will be presenting nearly 30 people (for either their first or their second terms) to be elected by the congregation to live out their unique ministry in the church. I hope church members will be there to help take the special action of electing them. Also, on a practical note, we need a quorum – so, if you are a member, please make every effort to attend the congregational meeting! In case you can’t be there in-person, you may also join the congregational meeting by Zoom.

Then, after the congregational meeting, join us for the Advent Preparation Brunch, at which Anthony Circle (one of our Presbyterian Women’s groups) with help from our youth will have lovingly prepared some breakfast casseroles. Come to eat, and then create a Christmas ornament that church staff will have prepared for you.

I hope to see you on Sunday for a fun time!

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

Mid-Week Meet-Up: Intergenerational Sunday

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It's time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! The Intergenerational Worship Service last Sunday was a great success. It was really nice to see so many of you at both services interacting with the prayer stations! I’ve attached a few photos of the lit votive candle station as well as the Communion tablecloth on which you wrote the names of faithful people from your lives. Pastor Erin had to put a few extra tea lights on the votive table because so many of you wanted to “light” a prayer. I was happy to hear that you experienced the service as healing, encouraging, and inspiring. That was its intended purpose.

The “Do Not Be Afraid” mural that you colored pieces of during worship is already being assembled to be ready for Advent. I loved how the mural and the quilt squares helped to make the overall point of the service, which was: We are all part of the one body of Christ, and each of us brings a gift to God for God to use to increase someone else’s faith.

Today, the day after this year’s general election, I am reflecting on the importance of remembering Sunday’s message – that, in the church, we are one body. As you are awaiting the election results both locally and across the country, whatever the results may be, just remember: You have brothers and sisters in Christ within the church who voted for the “other candidate.” You are all part of God’s family, and your love of your brothers and sisters must transcend your political commitments. Whatever the election results may be, just remember: Christ alone is the head of the Church and the Lord of all creation. Nothing will ever change that. Even if the earth itself shook and crumbled, and the mountains fell into the sea – we would have nothing to fear because God alone is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1-2).

Throughout the rest of the week, instead of staying glued to the news to watch the results coming in, I encourage you to put your phones away and turn off the TV and, instead, reflect on how God has uniquely gifted you to help your brothers and sisters in the church. Try to think of one way you can show genuine Christian love to someone else in the church. God’s peace awaits you on the other side of love. 

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

Mid-Week Meet-Up: Intergenerational Sunday

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! This Sunday is our much-anticipated Intergenerational Sunday. Here's what I've told you about worship this Sunday so far: you know that there will be no Sunday School, that the children of the church will be staying for the whole worship service, that there will be prayer stations in the sanctuary for worshipers, and that it will involve more participation than usual. Let me tell you a little more about worship on Sunday so you know what to expect.

We will follow a similar liturgy as we traditionally use for worship (responsive readings, prayers, scriptures, a sermon, music, singing, etc.). However, throughout the service you will be free to get up from your seats to come forward to use a prayer station(s). One prayer station will have coloring pages with colored pencils for you to take back to your seats to color. Each page will be assembled at a later time into a mural that will be on display in the Fellowship Hall throughout Advent. At the same prayer station, you may also take a quilt square and some crayons back to your seat to decorate. The quilt squares will then be made at a later date into a quilt or a wall hanging. At another prayer station will be votive candles for you to light as a symbol of a prayer you would like to lift up during worship. The baptismal font will also be available as a prayer station for you to use in order to remember your own baptisms and that, in your baptism, you have been claimed as a child of God. At another prayer station, you will also be able to help decorate a special tablecloth we will use during Communion, by writing someone’s name on the tablecloth who helped you discover your faith in Christ. In addition to the prayer stations, we will also be taking Communion by intinction, learning about an opportunity to go to Jamaica on a mission trip, remembering all our dearly departed church friends who have died in the past year, and will be coming to the front of the sanctuary to give our offerings.

Let me summarize everything I just said above. Worship this Sunday is going to be participatory, energized, and a reminder that, from the youngest to the oldest of us, we help each other learn and grow in faith. My hope is that it will be a very meaningful service, and I cannot wait to worship with you! I hope you’ll be there!

Peace,

Pastor Aaron

Mid-Week Meet-Up: Intergenerational Sunday

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! Our stewardship campaign is ramping up, and I’m in the middle of a sermon series highlighting the theme for the campaign this year: “Make a Difference.” Last Sunday, I preached on how our financial gifts to the church enable us to make a difference through our mission and outreach. This Sunday (10/30), the focus will be on how our relationships make a difference, and the next Sunday (11/6) will be about how our learning and growing make a difference.

I explained in last week’s Mid-Week Meet-Up that Sunday 11/6 will also be our first Intergenerational Sunday. On Intergenerational Sunday, the children of the church will be staying in the sanctuary for the entire 10:00 am worship service. The service will follow a traditional liturgy, but it will also be more interactive and more accessible for our younger worshipers. At the beginning of worship, there will be prayer stations in the sanctuary that worshipers will be invited to go to and take something back with them to their seats (something to color or create). Then, after the sermon, when we take the offering, worshipers will be invited to come to the front of the sanctuary to bring whatever they’ve created during the service and present it as an offering to God.

I wanted to take this opportunity to talk about the meaning and purpose of the offering in our worship service. Have you ever wondered why we take an offering during worship? We always take the offering after the sermon – toward the end of the service. Have you ever wondered why that is? Believe it or not there is actually a reason for both of those things I just mentioned. The reason the offering takes place after the sermon is because Reformed Christians believe that hearing the good news of God’s love demands a response from us. The offering is a way for us to respond to that good news by saying, “God, make me less attached to my worldly possessions, and help me to place my trust in you.” But the offering isn’t the only way we respond during worship. The prayers of the people happen after the sermon as a way to respond by saying, “God, you have loved me so much, so let me show my love for others by praying for them.” When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, it is always after the sermon as a way to respond by saying, “God, help me to give thanks (which is what the word “eucharist” means) for what you’ve done for me through Christ’s death and resurrection.” And traditionally, Baptisms are “supposed” to happen after the sermon, too, as a way to respond by saying, “God, you have loved me so much, and I want to be adopted as your very own child.” (The reason we do baptisms before the sermon at FPC Pittsford is because – on a practical note –it is very hard for infants and young children to wait until after the sermon to receive Baptism!)

So, on Intergenerational Sunday, after the sermon, when it comes time for people to bring the creations they made during worship forward, I encourage you to think of them as a response to the good news of God’s love. I hope to see you then, and I hope to see you this Sunday, too.

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron